to devote that life. This man was the majordomo, the chief
servant in the king's household. It was not that he loved Umballa;
rather that he owed Umballa a debt and resolved to pay it.

Two days later, when the fires were extinguished and the populace had
settled back into its former habits, this majordomo betook himself to
Umballa's house. It was well guarded, and by men who had never been
close to Umballa, but had always belonged to the dissatisfied section,
the frankly and openly mutinous section. No bribery was possible here;
at least, nothing short of a fabulous sum of money would dislodge their
loyalty to Ramabai, now the constitutional regent. No one could leave
the house or enter it without scrutiny and question.

The servants and the women of the zenana remained undisturbed. Ramabai
would have it so. Things had been put in order. There had not been
much damage done by the looters on the day of the revolt. They had
looked for treasure merely, and only an occasional bit of vandalism had
marked their pathway.

On the pain of death no soldier might enter the house.

The majordomo was permitted to enter without question. He passed the
guards humbly. But once inside, beyond observation, he became a
different man. For in Umballa's house, as in Ramabai's, there were
secret chambers, and to-day the majordomo entered one of them--through
a panel concealed behind a hanging Ispahan rug.

On the night after the revolt, Umballa, sober and desperate, had slunk
back disguised as a candy seller. The house was not guarded then; so
he had no difficulty in gaining admittance. But he had to gain
entrance through a window in the zenana. He would not trust either his
servants, his slaves, or his chief eunuch. To the women of his own
zenana he had always been carelessly kind, and women are least bribable
of the two sexes.

Umballa entered at once his secret chamber and food and water were
brought, one of the women acting as bearer. On the morning after the
guards arrived, and Umballa knew not how long he might have to wait.
Through one of the women he sent a verbal message to the majordomo with
the result that each day he learned what was taking place in the
palace. So they hunted for the king.

He was very well satisfied. He had had his revenge; and more than
this, he was confident when the time came he would also gain his
liberty. He had a ransom to pay: the king himself!

Now then, Ramabai felt it incu